Case Studies

Engaged to launch Oman’s first low cost carrier from concept to first commercial flight in under 1 year.

• Business plan for Civil Aviation Authority
• Operating licence for LCC in Oman
• Led, designed and delivered start-up implementation plan
• Leadership in strategy, brand, team, network, operations, maintenance, systems
• Sourced most economically efficient aircraft fleet in the market
• Achieved AOC Certification
• Launched commercial flights in 2017 in under 1 year
• SalamAir now operates fleet of 7 A320 aircraft to 28 destinations

Achieving EC approved turnaround and rebranding of destination airline Air Malta.

• Negotiating European Commission’s rules to enable state aid
• Turnaround plan, rebranding, repositioning and culture change
• 12 A319/A320 aircraft
• 500 redundancies, from 1,400 to 900 staff
• $250m revenue
• From €70m pa deficit to €6.25m operating profit (50% from new revenue, 50% from savings)
• Becoming one of Europe’s most punctual airlines

Turnaround and launching a brand new airline saving a strategic asset for Trinidad & Tobago.

• BWIA was losing $40m pa on a $270m turnover
• Persuaded Government of Trinidad and Tobago to close BWIA & launch new airline Caribbean Airlines in 3 months
• Winning the US FAA’s support
• Code-share with British Airways
• Integration of local airline Tobago Express
• From 1,900 to 1,100 staff
• Achieved financial break-even in 3 months
• Profit of $4m in 7 months, with increasingly positive cash flow

Turnaround of an established international government-owned carrier

• Full network review and redesign at domestic, regional and international long-haul level, slots negotiation and assignment
• New commercial strategy, sales & distribution strategy, customer journey, rebalance of capacity with sister LCC, new ancillary and loyalty strategy, new airline partnership strategy including franchise, codeshare, and alliances, and achieved regulatory approval for commercial JV agreement
• Managed fleet renewal programme, including economical and operational assessment, financial modelling, coordination of engagement with OEMs and preparation for engagement and assessment
• Achieved the following measurable financial outcomes:
  – 10% reduction in CASK (excluding fuel),
  – 50% reduction in operating losses, and
  – 22% improvement at EBIT level

Business plan review, turnaround and carve out of subsidiaries for one of the largest holding companies in the region, in partnership with AlixPartners.

• Business plan review post Covid, including network design and route profitability
• Commercial strategy review including LCC collaboration options for short haul feed
• Fleet restructure and rationalisation assessment and evaluation of options including captive leasing company
• Subsidiaries carve out program including MRO, catering, ground handling, travel, with full business plan and financial valuation

In-depth diagnostic assessment of the airlines’ operations and performance, delivering:

• Full quantitative and qualitative assessment of the airline using AMG’s proprietary Lodestar Dynamics diagnostic tool and methodology
• Full report with benchmarks of comparable operators and action plan for operational improvement and alignment to best-in-class
• Assessment of operations and operational teams fit for purpose
• Identification and prioritisation of strategic and operational projects to improve airline’s performance and growth
• Prioritised actions to achieve strategic objectives
• Financial assessment of turnkey projects

Business case and implementation plan for the start-up of a new national carrier.

• Full business plan preparation and evaluation
• Demand forecasting and scenario analysis
• Financing options evaluation
• Network design and fleet selection, coordination of OEM negotiation process
• Financial modelling for fleet selection and assessment
• Market research, brand development, industry brand launch event

MRO spend and cost saving review for legacy carrier.

• Review of all external spend in the maintenance area aimed at reduction of cost of maintenance, including airframes heavy checks, engines and components
• Conducted market testing, internal benchmarking and should cost analysis, identifying areas of potential savings
• Identified up to 20% savings on addressable spend

• One of largest Low Cost Carriers in the EU
• 100 + aircraft
• 4 operational bases & 6 different MROs
• Reviewed organisational structure, assessed fleet maintenance task application, developing tools to integrate and retain the most efficient check cycle.
• Established common maintenance philosophy, procurement, engineering and maintenance task applications uniformly applied
• Achieved €18m cost saving pa

• Asian operator
• Optimising fleet of 25 narrow body aircraft
• Assessed aircraft taking into account age, maintenance, lease conditions for return and future costs
• Reviewed future requirements for network, operating costs, maintenance capabilities and market rates
• Provided optimised solution ensuring the best cost model and long term operational fit was delivered

The AMG team have advised and held C-Level, Strategic and Operational Senior Management positions with the following Airlines and Aviation bodies: